Colla MacDonald is a young lord who wishes to return Castle Duntrune, once the home of his ancestors and now under the rule of the Campbells, to Clan Donald, but he needs the help and blessing of his uncle to do so. His uncle refuses to give any such help without knowing what they will be up against and suggests Colla send his young piper, Duncan, to discover Campbell's strength. Duncan agrees to aid his master in this way and is soon across the water and ensconced in enemy territory under the guise of seeing and courting his lady. Duncan finds love and danger, and soon comes to realize that Campbell is gathering his forces. When he is captured, he must find a way to warn Colla even though he will never leave Duntrune alive.
Impression: One of the things that really struck me about this novella is the voice of the narrator. It's a very unique, musical voice that fits the character and the story. It's the first thing that captured me as a reader and drew me into the story. Based on the legend of the Phantom Piper of Duntrune, the story is well written and well researched. Though the plot is pretty straightforward, that works in this case, and it doesn't keep the author from throwing in a little romance or some of the unexpected.
The characters are rich and each is unique. The details used help capture the reader and make the setting, the people, and the story itself more real. The writing is well done, and the author brings quite an emotional quality to the story. You can see this being the way the story happened. I highly recommend The Piper when it comes out. It's a beautiful tale that touches the heart.
When Gary was 14, he shot his father to protect himself and his mother. His mother died and he was sent to a correctional facility for boys. Now a foster family has decided to take him in and given him a new chance at a normal life. But, as Gary discovers, the past isn't that easy to break away from. As the secrets of those around him become unraveled and the typical pressures of teenagerhood build, Gary struggles with what he knows he must do and the anger that bubbles just under the surface. When he finds himself in a situation that's close to what happened when he was 14, Gary struggles to make the right choices despite the pain they will bring to him and the people he cares about.
Impression:Off Track is an intense novel that highlights the damage left behind by abuse. The author submitted this to LP as a young adult novel, but, despite the age of the protagonist, it's not a book I would let my teenagers read--much of it is too graphic and violent. That notwithstanding, is an excellent story. The reader is pulled in and pulled along--you come to care for Gary, want the best for him, and want it all to work out for him. You cheer for him, cry for him, fear for him. And, above all, you want to know what happens next. It's not a book I would have picked up if I had found it at B&N--it's just not something I would normally read, but it is an incredible journey that will not leave you unchanged. If the content matter won't bother you (violence, abuse in a variety of forms), then I recommend giving it a look when it's finally released in August.
Hannah is a talented young artist who has lost her dearest friend and mentor, her grandmother. In grief and at the insistence of her mother, she sets asides her dreams of being an artist to work in a stable job, but she's miserable. When she catches her boyfriend cheating on her, meets two very sexy men, her job goes belly up, and her best friend goes after her own dreams, Hannah must reevaluate her choices and decide whether or not to take a chance on her dreams and in love.
Impression: I generally do not like romance--there have been a few I've liked, but most have another plot that drives the story and don't let the romance take over. The "romance" books I like are the ones where the romance makes sense rather than ending up the end all be all of the book. The sexual tension comes in at appropriate times rather than being forced into the situation, no matter what that situation is. In my experience, most romance books are not like this. Every now and then, I pick up and try another one (usually by some well recommended author), only to get the same old stuff (and, yes, I do understand that the romantic/sexual element is the main part of the genre; honestly, that's not my beef--it's that the element too often overrides common sense--well, that and the language often used that is really silly when you think about it). I'll keep trying, but I pretty much expect the same old same old.
So it's always a surprise when I run into a romance novel that I enjoy, and I really enjoyed The Still Life of Hannah Morgan. The romance elements do not overwhelm the rest of the story, the main character is someone I could relate to as a reader, and the plot very solid. I literally could not stop reading it. Still Life is funny, romantic, and very real. It's a book that I'm enjoying editing, and a book I would buy if if I found it on the shelves at B&N. And, for someone who doesn't like romance, that's saying something.
Unless otherwise noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by me.
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I will no longer be linking to Amazon and no longer recommending Amazon as a place to purchase books I review. Amazon has repeatedly used bully tactics to reinforce its policies, even if those tactics cause harm to authors or limit customer choices. Amazon usually apologizes for the events after the fact, but that they continue to use the same methods makes those apologies hollow. I will not purchase from or encourage others to purchase from a business that chooses to take from the pockets of authors (who as a whole earn a lot less than general public realizes) and decide what the public should and should not read.
